Former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier told Haitians he had returned after 25 years in exile to participate in the post-earthquake reconstruction of his homeland and was ready to face “persecution” for alleged crimes during his administration.

More than four in 10 US voters are still undecided as to who they will choose in November's presidential election, polls showed today.

Britain, Japan, Australia and other countries are pushing for an unprecedented treaty regulating the arms trade worldwide.

Prosecutors were today deciding whether to launch a criminal investigation into claims that the congressman at the centre of a Washington intern’s disappearance tried to obstruct police.

More than four months after George W Bush became US president, the argument goes on about the mess left behind in some White House offices.